@danielcgold
Whether your guest is hopping in for the weekend or staying for a longer period of time, there are a few things that can be arranged to help make the stay more comfortable for them and stress-free for you.
Since life is extra busy, planning ahead for a guest is key. Part of the reason I’m writing this post is to prepare for my own house guests.
The more organized a host can be, the cozier the guest will be.
A few of these items are no brainers, yet with that being said, they can be easy to forget. It’s kind of like how Gwenyth Paltrow has a Hard Boiled Egg recipe in her cookbook. You can roll your eyes to it, but there is definitely someone out there who has never boiled a damn egg before. Same goes for first time hosts. They’re out there!
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Here are some of my most efficient, and sometimes very extra, house guest preps.
Clean the linens.
Duh, right? This is an obvious one, but when it comes to prepping, this goes on the list. Setting aside time for the boring details, such as this one, will help everything else organically fall into place. Plus, who doesn’t like checking items off of their to-do list?
Email the deets.
WIFI password, addresses, work schedule, favorite coffee shops, codes to house alarms and doors. Just one little email with all this info will make everyone’s life so freaking easy.
Plan meals ahead of time.
Sure, some meals may be had at restaurants, but what better way to visit with a guest than over a home cooked meal at home. This is perhaps the most hygge item on the list and one of my personal favorites. Share your favorite meal over a delicious glass of wine accompanied by plenty of good conversation and laughs.
Another idea: find a new recipe and make dinner together!
Grab a few groceries they love.
You don’t need to go crazy here, but perhaps get a few options to have for breakfast and snacks, particularly if your eating habits are the polar opposite.
I need to do this for any guest due to the fact that I don’t think my go-to snack of walnuts and Turkish figs are for everyone. Especially my little nieces and nephews. Fresh fruit, yogurt, toast, cereal, hard boiled eggs, and jam for breakfast. Maybe even some freshly squeezed orange juice to top it off.
Oh, and coffee (or tea). If your guest enjoys a hot cup o’ Joe first thing in the morning, go grab a bag.
Plan some stuff, but don’t plan everything.
Reservations and tickets to shows should be arranged ahead of time, however, letting everything else fall into place can provide for a more organic, stress-free prep. See what they are dying to do, set it up and then check that off your list. Next!
Stock the bathroom.
Clean towels (bath, face, and hands), matches or Poopouri, fresh bar of soap, and plenty of toilet paper. Let their bathroom experiences be as smooth sailing as possible.
Then stock the bar.
Speaking of giving your guest what they need, it’s very probable they will need/want a drink upon arrival. Not to mention while you’re at work or off to bed early, they may want to have a glass and relax. Again, there’s no need to set up a full bar, but having what they like on hand is always a thoughtful gesture.
Not going to lie, a spritz is always a good welcome drink after a long trip.
Look into more local things to do.
There are so many options for less touristy activities. If you’re into tutorial type classes – Google away! You can make flower crowns, the perfect winter cocktail, macrame wall decor, or perhaps even a ceramic weiner. For real, there is a shop in Chicago that teaches this. And, I’ve heard it’s a blast.
Other ideas:
- tour a local brewery/distillery (We love KOVAL.)
- pub/food crawl in one of the cities many cultural neighborhoods (Andersonville is great for this!)
- small theater production (Looking Glass Theater is spectacular.)
Prepare for a hygge night in.
If your guest is staying for an extended period of time, downtime is for sure to be had. Wash the throws (pro tip: especially if there are pet allergies), grab a candle, popcorn, bottle of wine, order a pizza, and prepare for some couch time.
Slippers.
This is definitely my most Martha Stewart recommendation.
This detail is so extra and I don’t care. Here’s why. When we stayed at an AirBnB in Austria, our host set out two pairs of slippers for us. And we’re not talking Ugg slippers here, we’re talking hotel type slips. Just enough to keep our feet warm. It was such a thoughtful extra step, one which I’ll always remember.
What did I miss?
Happy hosting!
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